The synthetic reconstruction of natural gene networks and the de novo design of artificial genetic circuits provides new insight into the cell’s regulatory mechanisms and opens new opportunities in biomedical research and development. We will present how modular biologic signaling devices can be interconnected to form synthetic gene networks performing basic computational functions and how these networks can be applied to overcome antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. Merging biologic signaling elements with materials science further enables the construction of trigger-responsive drug depots for the inducible and adjustable release of therapeutic proteins.